Impaired Nurses in the Workplace

摘要

The use of drugs and alcohol, be they legal or illicit, has been entrenched in societies and cultures throughout recorded history. Drugs and alcohol have been used for many reasons, including the provision of curative or palliative effects, to alter moods, and to alleviate pain. It is important to acknowledge that drug and alcohol use is purposeful for most people who choose to use substances and that all use is not dysfunctional or problematic. The ways in which we determine the use of such substances depends on the context of the use.Patterns and choices of use vary from culture to subculture and from individual to individual, depending on the socialization processes. Consequently, the use of substances is a fundamental component of human behavior and experience. Yet, when substance use enters the workplace, it becomes a problem-especially for healthcare workers.